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Four reported missing at sea in search of catamaran

By Raul Alzaga, Freelance Journalist on October 19, 2015

Cancun, Q.R. – Communication was lost with a catamaran that went out to sea on Saturday leaving officials scrambling to find the vessel.

Due to the bad weather that continues to sweep the Quintana Roo coastline, port authorities from Cancun to Tulum have set restrictions on smaller vessels entering the sea. Despite these restrictions and bad weather, a catamaran was piloted out to sea from a Cancun dock early Saturday.

The incident was reported to Cancun emergency numbers when the harbormaster conveyed to authorities that a boat with two men ignored the advisory about setting out to sea. Shortly after their departure, Cancun harbormaster lost all communication with the tourist vessel just as it passed the barrier reef.

In an attempt to locate the men, a rescue boat with two people was sent out to try and find the missing catamaran, but they too, went missing when their communication was lost. A third vessel was sent to sea in search of the other two boats carrying a total of four passengers, but due to heavy rains and swelling waves, that crew discontinued their search and returned to port.

Civil Protection confirmed the disappearance of the four people and two boats and handed it over the Mexican Navy. Navy crews set out in search of the missing boats, but due to the poor weather conditions, said the search was complicated.

At around 6:00 p.m., Cancun harbormaster received communication from the missing catamaran, who said they were at Punta Nizuc and were unstable due to large, rolling waves. There was no update on the second missing boat or its crew.